Lancashire tie with Derbyshire as Vitality Blast quarter-final hopes remain in the balance

Lancashire’s hopes of reaching the Vitality Blast quarter-finals remain in the balance after a tie against Derbyshire at Emirates Old Trafford.

On the back of last week’s narrow defeat away to Notts at Trent Bridge, Steven Croft’s side fell just short of victory once again in a fresh blow, as the contest went down to the final ball.

Matthew Hurst was among the players driving a late push, but just couldn’t get over the line for a win, leaving Lightning needing positive results from their upcoming meetings with Yorkshire and Durham, as well as results elsewhere going in their favour for qualification.

Martin Andersson claimed the first boundary of the contest at the start of the second over, before his opening partner Aneurin Donald smashed a couple of sixes off Mitch Stanley.

The latter would get his individual tally up to 19 off 10, before Hurst crucially caught for a James Anderson wicket to halt the early progress of the 29-year-old in the third.

Yousaf Bin Naeem at three was able to chip in with a maximum of his own, but only recorded one additional run alongside that, before becoming the second player to be dismissed by the England great, with Joe Moores catching on this occasion.

Wayne Madsen at four was able to add another 13 to the Derbyshire total, but didn’t last, as Shadab Khan marked his Emirates Old Trafford debut with a wicket for LBW.

Andersson was able to continue his progress, and ultimately fell just short of a half century, going for 49 off 37.

After claiming the 29-year-old as his first wicket of the night, Liam Livingstone swiftly added a second, bowling Matt Montgomery for 26.

Tom Hartley then joined in the fun, taking Ross Whiteley for two off two, courtesy of another Moores catch, before smashing the stumps of Nick Potts on the first ball he faced.

Heading into the closing stages of the Derbyshire innings, some clever fielding from Anderson saw Sufyan Moqim run out, with a no-look sweeping motion with his back turned to take the wicket.

The 43-year-old was then on catching duty to take Amrit Basra and give Stanley a wicket, leaving Lancashire with a target of 150.

In Lightning’s first over, skipper Keaton Jennings smashed both a six and a four to make a strong start to the chase.

A further big shot followed from the 34-year-old at the end of the fourth, before exiting for 23 off 16 a few balls later.

Fellow opener Michael Jones was able to get his individual tally up to 28, with his exit coming in the ninth after being bowled by Akif Javed.

A huge six from Livingstone gave him a platform to build on, but partners came quickly for the 32-year-old.

Ben McDermott exited for just seven, while Moores was caught on the first ball he faced, as Sufyan Moqim picked up two wickets.

A ball after hitting his second maximum of the night, Livingston was caught Bin Naeem with a total of 31.

While Khan was only able to register four before his dismissal, late pushes from Hurst (30), Jack Blatherwick (17) and Tom Hartley (1) opened the door to a late win.

Unfortunately, the former of the three saw his stumps taken with the final ball of the evening, seeing the game end in a tie.